1954's 10th
Our tenth reunion is now history. Like all big events that have been recorded in the annals of time, this particular reunion will be talked about and remembered for many years to come by all of us who had the good fortune to return to Hanover. From Friday noon through Sunday noon my capable reunion committee, together with the weatherman and those who attended, put on one of the greatest shows in Hanover's history — the Tremendous Tenth was tremendous indeed!
The anticipation of things to come was too much for some of us, and we jumped the gun by arriving on Thursday afternoon and evening. It was great to see the green light in Baker Tower again, even at 2 a.m. Friday morning as John Heston did arriving from Connecticut. Friday was bright and clear and a real New England June weekend was obviously in the offing. Down at the tennis courts, several classmates worked out in the 90° heat. Some overweight and under-exercised - there was so much grunting and groaning going on that it sounded more like a football workout. Other classmates trekked over hill and dale chasing a little white ball and pretending they were competing in their own private National Open.
Friday morning arrivals were greeted at Middle Fayerweather by Dick Brace or Dune Roberts and a crew of well-organized student workers. After receiving an envelope stuffed with welcome letter, reunion schedules, name tags and a new Class Directory (compiled and printed by Bill White), we selected our official reunion headgear, a very handsome coconut straw hat with green and white hatband that Dick Davidoff had obtained through Gary Rosenthal and the Stevens Hat Company. Don't be surprised if you encounter some of these hats on the commuter trains around the country this summer.
The Tuck and Thayer School luncheons were well attended by all the business types, complete with coats and ties as usual. Friday afternoon's swim at Storrs Pond was very welcome. It is a beautiful new fresh water pool with space enough for the whole town of Hanover. Later in the afternoon as we gathered for a "glad to be back" get-together at the tent we enjoyed the strains of a combo Seav Peters had lined up in his capacity as Hanover liaison man. Friday evening's alumni dinner in the new Leverone Field House was quite gay - complete with bagpipes and canned music. All the chicken dinners that weren't eaten were sent down to the fire fighters in Lebanon who were trying desperately to save what was left of the town. Friday night's performance of Richard III in the new Hopkins Center Theater was most dramatic. Just walking around the Hopkins Center is the best way to see quickly how much the College has changed in ten years.
The class meeting Saturday morning was a pleasant 30-minute ride on the railroad train. Nothing controversial, nothing discussed, everything accepted with good grace. The new executive committee which will carry on until 1968 includes the following: Chairman - Bill White; secretary - DickDavidoff; treasurer - Kent Klineinan; head agent - Bob Woodbury; and Jim Adams, Bud Addis, Bob Adnopoz, Ned Hoban, Tom Kelsey, Tom Malcolm, Dave Mandelbaum, Dick Page, Seav Peters, Jack Pierce, and Norm Veasey.
The picnic that afternoon was a huge success under the pines at Storrs Pond. Swimming was invigorating and at times the raft almost disappeared under the press of classmates somewhat larger than they were ten years ago. When Mike Finigan arrived in the middle of the afternoon we were tempted to present him with the award for the greatest perseverance in getting to the reunion. Undaunted by his car's breaking down in Bennington, Mike rented a car for the last 100 miles of his trip!
The sun was soon over the yardarm so we returned to the Campus, donned our party clothes and marched on College Hall in quest of cocktails. There we found Jim Adams and Bruce McAllister had coordinated to provide a fine selection, although gin and tonics were unquestionably the most popular. At the stroke of 7:30 we moved across the road to Thayer Hall for our banquet. After a few brief and inspiring remarks from President Dickey we sat down to one of the finest meals any of us have ever had in Hanover. Herb Hillman, who arranged the banquet, lavished the honors upon Jeanette Gill for her wonderful job. Following dinner Dick Page "'toastmaster-ed" a fine program, which was highlighted by Dean Thad Seymour's delightful and entertaining remarks. The Dean then obliged Steve Mullins by pulling Steve's name in the drawing for the free Reunion Weekend.
Back at the tent the band got into high gear as the twisting, limbo-ing, jitterbugging, and singing went on till 3:00 a.m. Stan Rosenberg and Ray Freud vied for "low man" honors while Ed Kieger entertained us all with his attempts to put his head through the dance floor! A few night hawks, including Buzz Clark, Jon Bugbee, and Charlie Morrison, toured the other tents and then came back to close up the '54 at 4:30!
Sunday morning's memorial service was well attended in the quiet and outdoor beauty of the Bema. It was a short but most impressive service.
We don't have enough space to mention everyone or all the news that one can gather on such an occasion, but some observations do come to mind, namely Jon Moore setting South East Asian policy Saturday night in the beer tent - his wife, Katie, expecting their third; Paul Dabney doing the Watusi on the dance floor Saturday night - his last swing before leaving for the West Coast; Fred Holland, the original New England yankee, extolling the virtues of 3 years in Los Angeles at the cocktail party; Russ Benjamin making converts for Houston at the class dinner.
Those of us who returned to our Tenth will long remember it as a smooth-running, fun-filled, enjoyable weekend that will be hard to duplicate anywhere or anytime. The weekend was best characterized by one of the departing classmates as he bade farewell to yours truly on Sunday morning, when he said, "What we lacked in quantity of number we more than made up for in quality of enjoyment." There were many thanks given to the reunion committee but the real thanks go to you who attended to make the Tenth such a success. You came; you saw; you enjoyed!
Here's hoping we'll see you all in '68 for our Fifteenth. In the meantime have a wonderful summer and we'll look forward to catching you at game time next fall.
The new Storrs Pond development was a perfect site for 1954's class picnic.
REUNION CHAIRMAN
